Power-developing device



June 9, 1925. 1,541,690

A. H. DRAKE POWER DEVELOPING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jun 9, 1-925. I 1,541,690

A. H. DRAKE POWER DEVELOPING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1924 5 sheets sheet 2 4 gr, f J '1 47 I:

l J 2 /m J I S] J w -J. f 3914 7 I? fzy I M if Q Q w -t w Z r M fl/Zira/z'e l v k ZBYW' g {N VVVV OR {7 j ATTORNEY June 9, 1925.

7 Ar H. DRAKE POWER DEVELOPING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 j ay/Z J4 I W 4/ w l z z 3 i s M Patented June 9, 1925 UNITED snares ALBERT I'I. DRAKE, OF WEST VALLEY, NEW YORK.

POWERD EVELOPING DEVICE.

Application filed May 16, 1924.

T0 (-5 whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. DRAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at test Valley, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Power-Developing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to power devices, particularly to mechanical movements, and has for its object the provision of a novel device for converting reciprocatory motion into rotary motion, the device being adapted for use in connection with a windmilhrocking chair, rocking horse, engine pitman or in fact any other power device and acting to convert or translate such intermittent reciprocatory movement into a substantially or entirely continuous rotary motion for applying power to washing machines or other domestic appliances or in fact any mechanism or device desired to be driven.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character in which dead center is overcome and in which means is provided for readily throwing the mechanism out of gear when desired.

The invention further contemplates many improved details of construction and arrangement in devices of this general class so as to constitute a general improvement in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed'and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1. is a side elevation of the mechanism.

Figure 2 through.

Figure 3 is an end view showing the device mounted in a different manner.

Figure 4 is a section at right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the pawl mechanism in elevation.

Figure 6 is a detail section showing the mounting of the pawls.

Figure 7 is a section illustrating a modification.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of one of the pawls.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Figure 3.

is a longitudinal section there- Scrial No. 713,820.

Figures 10 and 11 are detail views of the cams used for rendering the device inactive in the form disclosed in Figure 7.

Figure 12 is a section showing the pawl release used in the form shown in Figures 2 and 4.

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of the pawl releasing levers.

Figure 1d is a section on theline 14 -14 of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a rectangular supporting frame of any desired size and construction, depending upon the intended size of the whole device and the purpose for which it is to be used as well as the power generator providing the drive. This frame may conveniently be of channel or angle iron so as to possess strength and rigidity. At opposite sides of the frame are bearings 11 and at one end are other bearings 12.

Journaled in the bearings 11 is a shaft 13 which coes not extend entirely through the bearings and which is therefore prevented from having longitudinal movement. Rotatably mounted on this shaft are large bevel gears 14: which mesh with a pinion 15 on the shaft 16 to be driven, which shaft is journaled in the bearings 12. The shaft 16 might be provided with a gear, pulley or other means by which power may be taken off. Formed upon or secured to the gears lei are ratchets 17 which have their teeth oppositely arranged.

The operating means con'iprises an elongated lever 18 which has a hub 19 rotatably engaged upon the shaft 13. This hub is of considerable length so as to extend within recesses 20 inthe confronting faces of the gears and ratchets so as to have proper bearing surface and to be wevented from improper movement. Throughout a portion of its length the opposite sides of this lever 18 are toothed or ribbed as indicated at 21 so as to provide "secure holding means for brackets 22 which are similarly ribbed or toothed and which are held on to. the lever by bolts 23 or the like passing through slots 23% These brackets are formed with guides 2 L for plungers 25 which terminate in pawl heads 26 co-operating with the respective ratchets 17. The pawl heads have their inclined surfaces 27 oppositely arranged to correspond with the opposite arrangement of the ratchet teeth.

The pawls are urged into engagement with the ratchets by coil springs 30. As it is quite logical that the gears and ratchets will wear in the course of time, it is necessary to have an adjustment to compensate for this condition and I therefore provide the adjustable bracket members 22 above described.

The throw-out mechanism comprises a pair of small levers 31 located on opposite sides of the lever 18 and pivoted thereto by a common bolt or spindle 32. The ends of the spindle are squared so that both levers will move together. On the levers are handles 33 and connected with the levers are wires 34 or other flexible members which extend through guides 35 on the lever 18 and which are connected with eyes 36 on the plungers On the lever 18 are stops 37 engageable by the levers 31 for holding them in the dotted position shown in Figure 2' in which position the pawls are held entirely out of engagement with the ratchet-s.

The device may be used in a great variety of different ways, and in the position shown in Figure 1. In case it is employed in conjunction with a windmill or the like, it may be mounted on a suitable concrete base 39 and in the position shown inFigure 3 and held by a plurality of inclined braces 40 connected with the frame at suitable points. The operating lever 18 is then preferably connected with the windmill pitman by means of a frame 41 on the pitman 42 and within which are journaled rollers 43 which surround the lever 18 and which reduce friction. Power may be taken off from the shaft 16 in any desired manner, as for instance, by the gear 44.

To enclose and protect the working parts of the device, I provide a base pan 45 which is secured to the frame 10. Cooperating with this pan is a similar or mating pan member46 which constitutes a housing or cover and which is formed with an elongated slot 47 along which the lever operates.

In the operation it will be seen that when the lever 18 is reciprocated, the pawls 26 will co-act with the ratchets 17 for rotating the gears 14 and consequently driving the pinion 15 and shaft 16. hen the lever moves in one direction, one pawl will engage one ratchet while the other pawl will have its inclined end ride idly over the other ratchet. 'On the return stroke of the lever, the pawl action is reversed, but owing to the peculiar arrangement of the gearing, it is .apparent that the shaft 16 will still be driven in the same direction. By properly designating and correlating the parts it is possible to eliminate dead center or lost motion so that a continuous rotary movement will be the output from the device.

In Figure 7 I have shown another form in which the gears 50 corresponding to the gears 14 are equipped on their outer faces with ratchets 51 corresponding to the ratch ets 17. Co-acting with these ratchets 51 are spring pressed pawls 52 carried by stems 53 slidable through the operating lever and carrying nuts 54. This form acts in the same way as the first described form but the pawls are releasable by means of cam plates 55 which are slotted at 56 and which are slidable on the frame. The lever in this instance is forked and rotatably mounted outwardly of the gears. In either or both forms I may provide roller bearings 57 for the shaft 13 mounted as shown, and roller bearings 58 for the shaft 16.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is, of course, to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a frame, a shaft journaled therein, gears rotatable on said shaft, a driven gear be tween and meshing with both of said gears and mounted on a shaft, an oscillating lever pivoted on said shaft between the first named gears, ratchets carried by said first named gears, pawls on the lever cooperating with said ratchets, and means for adjusting the positions of said pawls to compensate for wear on the gears and ratchets.

2. In a device, of the class described, a frame, a shaft journaled therein, gears rotatable on said shaft, a driven gear between and meshing with both of said gears and mounted on a shaft, an oscillating lever pivoted on said shaft between the first named gears, ratchets carried by said first named gears, pawls on the lever cooperating with said ratchets, said pawls being carried by spring ,pressed plungers, flexible elements connected with the plunger-s, levers connected with the flexible elements, and means engageable by the levers for holding them in position applying tension to the flexible elements and withdrawing the pawls from engagement with the ratchets.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALBERT H. DRAKE. 

